Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="%2Astrathgo%5Cs">Στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ari%2Fstwn:">Ἀρίστων·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="swmatika%5Cs">σωματικὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29sqenei%2Fas">ἀσθενείας</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnatos">ἀδύνατος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="polemikh%5Cn">πολεμικὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suggenh%5Cs">συγγενὴς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="%2Adwrima%2Fxou">Δωριμάχου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpa">Σκόπα</w>, <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="parakexwrh%2Fkei">παρακεχωρήκει</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>.
2
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flma">ἐτόλμα</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fan">ἀξίαν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Ffasin">πρόφασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skw%2Fmmatos">σκώμματος</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn:">ὁρμήν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenos">ἀφέμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fa%7C">ἰδίᾳ</w> <w lemma="proetre%2Fpeto">προετρέπετο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpan">Σκόπαν</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%3Dsai">κοινωνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fwn">ὑποδεικνύων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtos">προεστῶτος</w> — <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29tw%3Dn">ἐτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakai%2Fdeka">ἑπτακαίδεκα</w> —
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<w lemma="paratiqei%5Cs">παρατιθεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthta">ἀλλοτριότητα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29namimnh%2Fskwn">ἀναμιμνήσκων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fas">εὐνοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas:">συμμαχίας·</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalh%3D">ἀσφαλῆ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%5Cn">εἰσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhn">ἐσομένην</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Ffainen">ἀπέφαινεν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxon">συνέχον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlikh%3Ds">Αἰτωλικῆς</w> <w lemma="protroph%3Ds">προτροπῆς</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ti%2Fqei">ἐτίθει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="a%29pronoh%2Ftou">ἀπρονοήτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diamemenhkui%2Fas">διαμεμενηκυίας</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fou">ἀκεραίου</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnhs">μόνης</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsw%7C">Πελοποννήσῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleomeniko%5Cn">Κλεομενικὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstane">συνίστανε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cakolouqh%2Fsousan">ἐξακολουθήσουσαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoian">εὔνοιαν</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fswsi">κωλύσωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29rei%3Dn">ἐρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29gklh%2Fmata">ἐγκλήματα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnois:">ἀμυνομένοις·</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ga%2Fgwsi">ἀγάγωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodiei%3Dn">ἐμποδιεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fsews">προφάσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29porh%2Fsein">ἀπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh:">ἔφη·</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikei%3Dn">ἀδικεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29phggelme%2Fnous">ἐπηγγελμένους</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fsein">κοινωνήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pw%5Cn">εἰπὼν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fsthse">παρέστησε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpa%7C">Σκόπᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="prosdeca%2Fmenoi">προσδεξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnodon">σύνοδον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29poklh%2Ftois">ἀποκλήτοις</w> <w lemma="summetado%2Fntes">συμμεταδόντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntwn">καθηκόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w>,
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fseis">κρίσεις</w> <w lemma="dialabo%2Fntes">διαλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%2Ftais">Ἠπειρώταις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%3Dsi">Ἀκαρνᾶσι</w>, <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegkan">ἐξήνεγκαν</w>.
The Strategus of the Aetolians at this time was <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ariston&groupId=365&placeId=695">Ariston</a>. Being himself incapacitated for service in the field by certain bodily infirmities and being related to Dorimachus and Scopas, he had more or less ceded his whole office to the latter. Dorimachus did not venture to exhort the Aetolians by public speeches to make war on Messene, since he really had no valid pretext, but, as everybody knew, his animus was due to his own lawless violence and his resentment of a jibe.
So he desisted from any such plan, and took to urging on Scopas in private to join him in his project against the Messenians, pointing out to him that they were safe as regards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> owing to the youth of its ruler — Philip being now not more than seventeen — calling his attention to the hostility of the Lacedaemonians owing to the Messenians, and reminding him that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elis&groupId=560&placeId=1048">Elis</a> was the friend and ally of the Aetolians; from all which facts he deduced that they would be quite safe in invading <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>. But next — this being the most convincing argument to an Aetolian — he pictured to him the great booty that they would get from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>, the country being without warning of invasion and being the only one in Greece that the Cleomenic war had spared. Finally he dwelt on the popularity they themselves would gain in Aetolia. The Achaeans, he said, if they opposed their passage, could not complain if the Aetolians met force by force, but if they kept quiet they would not stand in the way of the project.
Against the Messenians they would have no difficulty in finding a grievance, for they had long been inflicting wrong on the Aetolians by promising to ally themselves with the Achaeans and Macedonians. By these arguments and others in the same sense, he made Scopas and his friends so eager for the enterprise that without waiting for the General Assembly of the Aetolians, without taking the Special Council into their confidence, without in fact taking any proper steps, but acting solely as their own passion and their private judgement dictated, they made war all at once on the Messenians, Epirots, Achaeans, Acarnanians, and Macedonians.